Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of fans turned out to support a member of Irish rap group Kneecap on Wednesday at a London court as he sought to throw out a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O'Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the yellow flag of Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London on November 21, 2024.

Ó hAnnaidh is accused of holding up the flag on stage while saying "Up Hamas, up Hezbollah". Kneecap have said the flag was thrown on stage during their performance.

The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, which makes it a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.

Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with the Palestinian cause and had to fight his way through a scrum of photographers to get inside the building.

Irish music was played outside the court throughout the hearing, with many supporters waving Irish and Palestinian flags while others held placards reading "Free Mo Chara".

Ó hAnnaidh's lawyers say the charge was brought too late and the prosecution case should be thrown out, as Ó hAnnaidh was formally charged on May 22 this year, one day after the six-month limit for such charges.

Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, however, argued that Ó hAnnaidh was charged on May 21, within the time limit. Judge Paul Goldspring said he would give a decision on September 26.

Ó hAnnaidh left the court to cheers from supporters, telling the crowd the charge against him was "a distraction from the real story" of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories.